“It is still early days in the investigation and we are still speaking to witnesses to gather as much info as possible. These witnesses are children and speaking with them is a delicate and time consuming process.

“I would like to return to the description of the vehicle, and I am mindful that we are still in the process of speaking to these children, so I am anxious that we only provided as accurate information as possible.

“What the witnesses have told is that the vehicle looks like a van, they describe it as small at the front and large at the back, so it could be interrupted that this could be something similar to a Ford Connect type van or a Landrover.

“Furthermore April has been described as getting into the driver’s side of the vehicle. This may be because she got in with the driver or that it is left hand drive vehicle.

“We still believe that the van is grey or light coloured, but again these things can be affected by failing light and street lamps.

“We are following expert advice and research which says that in situations like this you concentrate your searches in the immediate area and then widen it out. This is what we are doing.

“If you were in the area of Bryn y Gôg yesterday evening at around 7pm or you recognise the additional information about the van we have provided please call the incident room on 0300 2000 333. And please get in touch if you have any footage which may assist in our inquiries. If any pieces of information trigger something please get in touch. ”

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 12:48:42 PM

A national church leader has urged people to pray for the safe return of April Jones.

Elfed Godding, national director of Evangelical Alliance Wales said: “For the welfare of April and to support her family, I would urge the people of Wales to pray for April’s safe return. Social media is proving to be very helpful in this investigation and I would encourage people to tweet their prayers by using the hashtag #findapril.”

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 12:54:35 PM

All party leaders say their thoughts are with search for April Jones at first minister's questions #senedd

Staff from Mountain Warehouse store in Aberystwyth are taking torches and waterproofs over to Machynlleth this evening to help equip search parties. They saywill happily take over any donations from the public if they are taken to the store before 6pm tonightAnyone with torches, batteries, waterproofs, maps of the area, flasks etc to donate should take them to Mountain Warehouse (behind Aberystwyth bus station, next to Lidl & Argos) by 6pm

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 1:05:01 PM

Experts from the UK’s child protection centre have been drafted in to help in the hunt.Charlie Hedges, manager for missing, abducted and kidnapped children at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), says he was called at 11pm last night for help on the case.

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 1:23:16 PM

Mr Hedges said he advised Dyfed Powys Police on the importance of high-profile media coverage, helped by the use of the Child Rescue Alert system.The system, based on the American Amber Alert scheme, notifies the police, press and the public if a child goes missing.Mr Hedges said it links forces throughout the country and allows them to create a “virtual call centre”, where all calls relating to the missing child can be channelled to the force investigating.

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 1:24:13 PM

Hedges: "The main thing to start off is the high-profile media response using the Child Rescue Alert system, encouraging people to give their information.“But in the background there’s an investigation ongoing looking at what has happened in the local area, evaluating the information, carrying out searches, examining CCTV.“We are engaged in the investigation, we are pursuing some lines.“One of our specialisms is around the online environment, so we are looking to see what specialist support we can bring in that area to see what we can bring to aid the investigation.”

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 1:24:41 PM

At Machynlleth Leisure Centre. Cars as far as eye can see. Hundreds here ready to join searches for missing schoolgirl April Jones

A poignant picture of a pink bike outside April Jones' home in Machynlleth. The five-year-old was playing on her bicycle when she went missing at around 7pm last night

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 2:03:18 PM

A picture of April will be featured on digital billboards across the UK with a message urging anyone with information to call the Child Rescue Alert helpline on 0300 2000 333 or the charity Missing People in confidence on 116 000.

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 2:06:36 PM

The key points from DS Bevan’s lunchtime press conference:

–April got into the driver's side of the vehicle which was small at the front and large at the back - may have been a landrover - it may have been a left-hand drive.

- Officers have only had an "initial description" of the driver, but police not comfortable with releasing details yet

–Immediate efforts being concentrated IN Machynlleth

–A child witness was the source of the van appeal. That is the initial, first-hand account police are going on

–CCTV being recovered according to police

–Child witnesses will be reinterviewed today

–Neighbouring Welsh forces and some English forces are helping Dyfed Powys police in their investigation

by simon.gaskell edited by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 2:41:41 PM

This is April Jones wearing the coat she was in last night when she was abducted.

by Steffan Rhys edited by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 3:04:13 PM

The image of April Jones that will appear on video billboards across the country

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 3:04:20 PM

The official missing poster for April Jones issued by charity Missing People

by Paul Rowland10/2/2012 3:07:55 PM

Back in Aberystwyth for press conference with family of missing Machynlleth five-year-old April Jones. Will be live-tweeting. Starts soon.

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WalesOnline, the best source for Welsh news, sport, business and lifestyle and entertainment. Powered by the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and Celtic Weekly Newspapers. Produced by Media Wales Ltd.